Bangalore Bustle

Bangalore is not really a tourist town, it is a really busy world IT centre with a population heading towards 9 million. There are 500,000 auto rickshaws so if you get lost in this bustling Southern Indian metropolis you are never far from someone to take you to a familiar place. I think this city is worth a visit - even if it's only for a day or two - and you can get luxury at reasonable prices. The Taj Hotel or the Leila Palace Hotel are central and offer oases fo calm in the middle of the crazy Bangalore bustle. You can then explore the shopping areas and visitt he temples and palaces knowing that you can escape back to the joys of fine Indian Cuisine and perhaps a Gin and Tonic. There is even a Hard Rock Cafe in Bangalore - one of the few places you'll find beefburgers and a good place to unwind Western Style if the Indian culture is proving a little too relentless.

Once you have had enough of this exciting but tiring place, you can then tour Southern India, going to places like Mysore with the beautiful palace, Kerala with the houseboats and Hill stations.